Announced by the USPS on May 3rd:
The Postal Service evokes the holiday spirit with four new se-tenant stamps featuring a colorful digital illustration of elves preparing toys on a winding conveyor belt in a snow-laden forest.
Like many beloved Christmas traditions—including Santa Claus himself—elves did not become a well-established part of the holidays in America until the 19th century. In the 20th century, as elves became firmly rooted in American Christmas lore, they eventually took center stage in beloved holiday television specials, films and books.
Don Clark was the artist and stamp designer. Antonio Alcalá was the art
director.
Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.
Updated January 14, 2023:
Linn’s Stamp News, in its January 30, 2023, issue which went online on the 14th, reports major diecut (perforation) errors in the Holiday Elves stamps issued late last year. The horizontal cuts have moved up or down to varying degrees. In one of the most egregious examples, found by Michael Moticha in Southern California, the diecuts are under the elves’ chins!
As a result, the error will get its own Scott catalogue number, 5722c. Other problems with the production of these stamps have also been reported.
Updated December 1st:
The Scott Catalog numbers for this issue
- 5722 Elf and Teddy Bear
- 5723 Elf Tying Ribbon
- 5724 Elf with Toy Car
- 5725 Elf with Rocket
- a. Block of 4, #5722-5725
- b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5722-5725
Updated August 16th:
Here are the first-day cancels for this issue:
The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.36″ x 1.49″
The pictorial postmark measures 2.75″ x 1.33″
[ceremony details]
Holiday Elves to Decorate Seasonal Greeting Cards
What: The U.S. Postal Service is getting ready for the holidays by holding the first day of issue ceremony for its Holidays Elves Forever stamps at Santa Claus House in North Pole, AK.
The event is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #HolidayElvesStamps.
Who: Mike Elston, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors Secretary, will serve as dedicating official
Mike Miller, president, Santa Claus House
Santa Claus
Reindeer (maybe Blitzen)
When: Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at 11 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time (3 p.m. Eastern)
Where:
Santa Claus House
101 St. Nicholas Drive
North Pole, AK 99705
RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/holidayelves.
Background: The stamps are se-tenant, which means they work together as a single scene or as individual images. Santa’s happy helpers are tireless in their chores preparing treats and toys for holiday gift-giving. Just like flying reindeer, the North Pole and Santa himself, elves are woven into the fabric of the season’s traditions.
Artist Don Clark first sketched his design and then created the final illustration digitally. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.
Updated August 15th from the Postal Bulletin:
On September 15, 2022, in North Pole, AK, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Holiday Elves stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), double-sided booklet (Item 683900). These stamps will go on sale nationwide September 15, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
The Postal Service™ evokes the holiday spirit with four new se-tenant stamps featuring a digital illustration of elves preparing toys on a winding conveyor belt in the midst of a snowy landscape:
- One elf sews a tiny teddy bear.
- Another elf wraps a gift.
- One elf carefully puts the finishing touches on the paint of a model car.
- Another elf examines a model rocket.
Along the conveyor belt are other wrapped gifts, a candy cane, and a lollipop. Surrounding the elves is a small, snow-laden forest of evergreens. Don Clark was the artist and stamp designer. Antonio Alcalá was the art director.
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